Flying with guitars in gig bags

Jeffscreamedcorn · May 3rd, 2008, 01:57 PM

Found out that TSA regulations allow gig bags in overhead compartments, due to a deal cut by the Federation of Musicians. When you fly, they suggest you carry the following letter in case you encounter an idiot....

http://www.indie-music.com/downloads/AFM_carryon.pdf

Here's the full article with travel tips....

http://guitarplayer.wordpress.com/20...ar-air-travel/

TELECASTERbstrd · May 3rd, 2008, 02:39 PM

Thanks for the link!
This brings up a very bad subject!
Last month I had a gig 600 mi. away, so I flew. I called the airlines to ask if I could carry on my guit in a gig-bag. They said NO, but I could buy it a seat. That sucked because I had to pick my least expensive guitar to load into the band trailer and hope for the best.
When I got to the airport there were several people with soft cased guits to carry on and one told me that he has had no problem with the guit carry-on.
I had to play my least favorite Tele at that gig because I was told that I can't take it on and I darned sure won't check her in.

Point is... I'm gonna carry for now on and it is ok to do it.

stxrus · May 3rd, 2008, 02:54 PM

both my SG and Tele have flown with me in the overhead. both in hardshell cases. never had a problem. even TSA liked the instruments and were quite helpful. i'd never use a gig bag as some clown may try to cram his/her suitcase on top of your guitar.

steve

lostpick · May 3rd, 2008, 03:16 PM

I have ever read...

man did I need this letter in January...

I was forced to check guitars in standard
hardshell cases, told to pick them up
at the "special handling" window...

The nicked up cases of course appeared
on the standard conveyor not the special handling window...

Dont know how many times they went around
before I noticed them...

flyingb54 · May 3rd, 2008, 04:01 PM

I fly quite a bit, especially overseas. I really never encounter any problems with the gig bag unless its a comuter flight and the over head bins are not big enough. Then I check it at the plane and get it back as soon as I get out the door on arrival. No sweat.
I've found the best thing to do is **** it behind your back when walking on board and don't stop to ask permission.
Usually, if you look cool and dont make a big deal about it you can get on with no problems.
At least its been working forme.
JB
www.johnbeland.com

TheDev01dOne · May 5th, 2008, 08:57 AM

When I flew over here to UK from Aus I brought 2 Teles with me but they said they couldn't come as carry on so I took the necks off the bodys and put a guitar in each suitcase between all my clothes. They got here fine but it was still pretty worrying, first thing I did when I got my suitcases was open them up and make sure they were all okay.

I'll remember this for the way home though because I'll have 4 guitars I need to get back instead of the 2 I brought over!

Bhansen25 · May 5th, 2008, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyingb54

I fly quite a bit, especially overseas. I really never encounter any problems with the gig bag unless its a comuter flight and the over head bins are not big enough. Then I check it at the plane and get it back as soon as I get out the door on arrival. No sweat.
I've found the best thing to do is **** it behind your back when walking on board and don't stop to ask permission.
Usually, if you look cool and dont make a big deal about it you can get on with no problems.
At least its been working forme.
JB
www.johnbeland.com

Ditto.

Works every time

tomi · May 5th, 2008, 10:09 AM

I have flown with guitars in Tough Traveller gig bags. They have a kind of hanger-hook attachment on a short chain up near the headstock end. Most planes have a little closet area where the flight crews hang their spare uniforms, etc. You can hang a gig bag right there. I even did it once with two gig bags strapped together.

ajgus · May 5th, 2008, 10:16 AM

+1 tomi. I flew to London & eventually on to Rome a few years back. I had an acoustic w/ me & the flight attendant sarcasticly asked me "where do you think you're gonna stick that thing?" & I said " you tell me". She put it in that galley closet. So if you ask, they'll let you store it there. But, they won't volunteer the information all the time.

BlackguardBob · May 5th, 2008, 12:40 PM

I have been flying with guitars for 11 years all over the world and only once have I been told I had to check the guitar in as baggage. I was given a ticket to put on the handle so the gate staff could apprehend the guitar and store it in the hold. All I did was remove the ticket when nobody was looking and I walked on the plane and stored it in an overhead with no problems.

Another time at JFK I had a Gibson Acoustic that wouldn't fit through the security X-Ray machine and the guy working it told me because it didn't fit I would have to check it. I walked back to the check in desk and politely explained I was not happy about checking an expensive fragile instrument and the guy there walked back to the X-Ray machine with me, lifted a flap and shoved it through the machine with no problem.

Sometimes things go real bad when flying with a gig bag. This is a 1960 Gibson Les Paul/SG that got a light knock in transit to Stockholm last year. It ruined the whole trip for me. I checked my telecaster in the hold with no problems at all. This was a bad day :-(

tc52 · May 5th, 2008, 02:03 PM

flying.....is...
easy with a fender style guitar,....
...neck like an umbrella in the overhead box, body in the flight case under the seat...
just four neck screws, and removing the strings......

travelling, never ever with a Gibson.....!

Tsuekasa · May 5th, 2008, 05:13 PM

Well i flew to the philippines with my mim tele. So it was pretty crowded everywhere. But I asked them if it was alright to put it in their closet. The whole 15hour flight i worried if my tele was ok lmao. But no chances of someone taking off with it when the plain landed. i did this 4 times because it takes me 2 flights to get to philippines and 2 flights back

AjayTele · May 5th, 2008, 05:19 PM

I recently visited the USA and while there, I bought a Tele of course (Nashville Power Tele). It was in a Fender Gig bag.

I brought it back to Australia as carry on, no problem. If you don't want to "risk" the overhead you can just ask for it to be stored in the Captain's Closet at the front of the airplane. If they don't have other guitars and stuff, they will usually say yes.

This was no problem, even on a packed DFW / LAX flight (not a spare seat on the plane).

May 3rd, 2008, 01:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jeffscreamedcorn Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: beantown Age: 51 Posts: 781	Flying with guitars in gig bags Found out that TSA regulations allow gig bags in overhead compartments, due to a deal cut by the Federation of Musicians. When you fly, they suggest you carry the following letter in case you encounter an idiot.... http://www.indie-music.com/downloads/AFM_carryon.pdf Here's the full article with travel tips.... http://guitarplayer.wordpress.com/20...ar-air-travel/

May 3rd, 2008, 02:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
TELECASTERbstrd Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hill Country TEXAS Posts: 731	Thanks for the link! This brings up a very bad subject! Last month I had a gig 600 mi. away, so I flew. I called the airlines to ask if I could carry on my guit in a gig-bag. They said NO, but I could buy it a seat. That sucked because I had to pick my least expensive guitar to load into the band trailer and hope for the best. When I got to the airport there were several people with soft cased guits to carry on and one told me that he has had no problem with the guit carry-on. I had to play my least favorite Tele at that gig because I was told that I can't take it on and I darned sure won't check her in. Point is... I'm gonna carry for now on and it is ok to do it. __________________ Howdy Y'all, most of my stuff pertains to country music. my MySpace Music Hill Country Horseworks

May 3rd, 2008, 03:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
lostpick Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Staten Island, NYC Posts: 987	This is one of the most valuable threads... I have ever read... man did I need this letter in January... I was forced to check guitars in standard hardshell cases, told to pick them up at the "special handling" window... The nicked up cases of course appeared on the standard conveyor not the special handling window... Dont know how many times they went around before I noticed them...

May 3rd, 2008, 04:01 PM	#5 (permalink)
flyingb54 Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: BRENHAM TEXAS Age: 59 Posts: 811	I fly quite a bit, especially overseas. I really never encounter any problems with the gig bag unless its a comuter flight and the over head bins are not big enough. Then I check it at the plane and get it back as soon as I get out the door on arrival. No sweat. I've found the best thing to do is **** it behind your back when walking on board and don't stop to ask permission. Usually, if you look cool and dont make a big deal about it you can get on with no problems. At least its been working forme. JB www.johnbeland.com __________________ "Son, that has nothing to do with nothin'"....Bill Monroe

May 5th, 2008, 08:57 AM	#6 (permalink)
TheDev01dOne Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Staffordshire, England. Age: 20 Posts: 498	When I flew over here to UK from Aus I brought 2 Teles with me but they said they couldn't come as carry on so I took the necks off the bodys and put a guitar in each suitcase between all my clothes. They got here fine but it was still pretty worrying, first thing I did when I got my suitcases was open them up and make sure they were all okay. I'll remember this for the way home though because I'll have 4 guitars I need to get back instead of the 2 I brought over! __________________ '86 MIJ Esquire Squier Standard - Heavily Modded Bastardised '80(?)s Vester Esquire

May 3rd, 2008, 02:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
stxrus Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2007 Location: St. Croix, USVI Age: 56 Posts: 625	both my SG and Tele have flown with me in the overhead. both in hardshell cases. never had a problem. even TSA liked the instruments and were quite helpful. i'd never use a gig bag as some clown may try to cram his/her suitcase on top of your guitar. steve

May 5th, 2008, 10:09 AM	#8 (permalink)
tomi Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 361	I have flown with guitars in Tough Traveller gig bags. They have a kind of hanger-hook attachment on a short chain up near the headstock end. Most planes have a little closet area where the flight crews hang their spare uniforms, etc. You can hang a gig bag right there. I even did it once with two gig bags strapped together.

May 5th, 2008, 10:16 AM	#9 (permalink)
ajgus Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: chicago Posts: 1,996	+1 tomi. I flew to London & eventually on to Rome a few years back. I had an acoustic w/ me & the flight attendant sarcasticly asked me "where do you think you're gonna stick that thing?" & I said " you tell me". She put it in that galley closet. So if you ask, they'll let you store it there. But, they won't volunteer the information all the time. __________________ "I'll eat up all your crackers & your licorice. Hey yo, fat girl...come here...are you ticklish?" - Sir Humpty Hump

May 5th, 2008, 12:40 PM	#10 (permalink)
BlackguardBob Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: WSG HQ Manchester UK Age: 40 Posts: 146	I have been flying with guitars for 11 years all over the world and only once have I been told I had to check the guitar in as baggage. I was given a ticket to put on the handle so the gate staff could apprehend the guitar and store it in the hold. All I did was remove the ticket when nobody was looking and I walked on the plane and stored it in an overhead with no problems. Another time at JFK I had a Gibson Acoustic that wouldn't fit through the security X-Ray machine and the guy working it told me because it didn't fit I would have to check it. I walked back to the check in desk and politely explained I was not happy about checking an expensive fragile instrument and the guy there walked back to the X-Ray machine with me, lifted a flap and shoved it through the machine with no problem. Sometimes things go real bad when flying with a gig bag. This is a 1960 Gibson Les Paul/SG that got a light knock in transit to Stockholm last year. It ruined the whole trip for me. I checked my telecaster in the hold with no problems at all. This was a bad day :-(

May 5th, 2008, 02:03 PM	#11 (permalink)
tc52 NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 5	flying.....is... easy with a fender style guitar,.... ...neck like an umbrella in the overhead box, body in the flight case under the seat... just four neck screws, and removing the strings...... travelling, never ever with a Gibson.....!

May 5th, 2008, 05:13 PM	#12 (permalink)
Tsuekasa TDPRI Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: michigan Age: 26 Posts: 54	Well i flew to the philippines with my mim tele. So it was pretty crowded everywhere. But I asked them if it was alright to put it in their closet. The whole 15hour flight i worried if my tele was ok lmao. But no chances of someone taking off with it when the plain landed. i did this 4 times because it takes me 2 flights to get to philippines and 2 flights back

May 5th, 2008, 05:19 PM	#13 (permalink)
AjayTele Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Age: 47 Posts: 952 12 Photos	I recently visited the USA and while there, I bought a Tele of course (Nashville Power Tele). It was in a Fender Gig bag. I brought it back to Australia as carry on, no problem. If you don't want to "risk" the overhead you can just ask for it to be stored in the Captain's Closet at the front of the airplane. If they don't have other guitars and stuff, they will usually say yes. This was no problem, even on a packed DFW / LAX flight (not a spare seat on the plane).